which they take as so many records of their salvation testimonies that the Lord is their God which is their exceeding ioy Psal. 43 4. In whom they incourage themselves in all distresses 1 Sam. 30 6. The ioy of the temporizer is partly of his new knowledge of the great things of the Gospell or conceit of libertie from the fearefull effect of sinne of selfelove desiring not to perish but to dye the death of the righteous The savour of the Gospell is sweet to him and delights him but he is never perfumed as the faithfull that come out of the world unto Christ as with mirrhe and incense and all the powders of the Merchant which ascends like pillars of smoke Cant. 3 6. They differ in effects the faithfull reioycing in Christ whom they receive of God as the gift of his love unto them unto salvation love him againe for his love 1 Iohn 4 19. And receiving him as the pledge of all promises in whom they have their certaine fulfilling they trust in GOD their faith and their hope is in him 1. Pet. 1. 21. and reioycing in him as their redeemer that gave himselfe for them they are so wholy possessed of his love that they live no more to themselves but to him 2 Cor 5. 14. As the Apostle saith To me to live is Christ Philip. 1. 21. The joy of the temporizer either turnes to pride loosenesse or some perverse effect And received him ioyfully As he received Christ into his heart so into his house with chearfullnesse which may bee for our instruction to receive Christ in his members and in his servants willingly and gladly loving Christ in straungers specially being such for religion wee must use hospitalitie towards them without grudging 1 Pet. 4 9. The Apostle requires that Christians bee given to hospitalitie that they follow it Rom. 12 13. Which requires studie and diligence in exercising it Heb. 13 2 in saying Be not forgetfull to lodge strangers it implies a mindfullnesse of the dutie so as not to become more remisse in the accustoming a mans selfe to it 1. Though this be sometimes a part of magnificence and is the worke of rich men yet it is most a fruit of love and mercie which is to bee done with cheerefullnesse Rom. 12 8. 2. Christ is received in the least of his brethren and counts it done to him Math. 25 35. I was a stranger and yee tooke mee in verse 40. In as much as yee did to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it to me 3. Cheerefullnesse in their intertainement rejoyceth their hearts quiets their affections Philem. 7. The bowels of the Saints are refreshed by the brother when they are in feare either to want or to bee cast upon unbeleevers or sadly suspect they shall bee counted a burden and find such fellowshipe of the Spirit such compassion and mercie the comfort of the love they perceive and voluntary subjection to the Gospell of God doth refresh them greatly which love they make knowen before the Churches 3 Iohn 6. As he that eates the meat of him that hath an evill eye though hee bid him eate and drinke yet because his heart is not with him hath no pleasure in his sweet morsels but is more greived at his churlishnesse than comforted with his provision God rewards this cheerefull harbouring of his servants in this world and that which is to come as Abraham Lot the widow of Sarephath 1 King 17 16 23. The Shunamite 2 King 4 Thus hee promiseth if thou bring the poore that are cast out into thine house the glory of the Lord shall bee thy reward to bring them in is more than to take them in upon intreatie Esay 58 7. The smallest gift given of love a cuppe of water of cold water to the least of those that belong to Christ to a Disciple in that name shall bee rewarded Marke 9 41. Which is not simply affirmed but with an asseveration for more assurance and this excellent vertue of hospitalitie hath greater promises according to the qualitie of persons which in Christian love received are intreated respectively for their calling and cause for which they are strangers There being danger in receiving them that are cast out for religion as if they were rebels Act. 17 6 7 it is likely the greater daunger may bee in receiving the teachers therfore our Saviour gives the greater incouragement saying hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward to receive him in the name of a Prophet is to receive him as a Prophet and because hee is one so honouring Christ in his servants and specially in them that are specially neere him in place and imployed about his kingdome not only shall hee receive a Prophets reward actively that which the Prophet gives as the knowledge of the truth the opening of secrets of Gods kingdome but passively the reward which God gives with respect to the dignitie of the person on whom the benefit is conferred or as a furtherer of the Prophets worke a helpe to the truth which hee preacheth giving such reward as hee gives the Prophet as if hee had the office of the Prophet and executed it as 1 Sam. 30. 24 As his part is that goeth downe to the battell so shall his part bee that tarieth by the stuffe It serves to reprove the hartlesnesse of Christians to to this duty of receiving CHRIST to their houses in such as perteine to him some as above other men they exclude them from their love so from their dwelling no lovers at all of them that are good some of feare to bee persecuted with them because iniquitie shall abound the love of many shall waxe cold so held with corrupt selfe love that they dare not helpe Christians in their trouble least they should be counted like them this is in a degree to forsake the cause of Christ and to bee ashamed of him They had neede bee prayed for as the Apostle forsaken in his first answering at Rome prayeth for them that failed him God preserveth some in safetie when others are in trouble that the one may succour the other Pov 24 12. If thou say behold we knew not of it shall not hee who pondereth the hearts understand it and hee who preserveth thy soule doth not he know it c. To move to this dutie it may helpe that wee have examples commended of the practise of it Gaius the hoste of Paul and of the whole Church Rom. 16 23. This is a singular commendation that he received Christians comming from every place to his house and table Phebe he gives a great prayse of for her hospitalitie to him and many other and in thankefullnesse requires the Saints at Rome to assist her in whatsoever businesse she hath neede of them as a thing becomming them Rom. 16 2. It is the praise of Lidia that she constrained Paul and Silas to tarry in her house and of
because he knew not as he thought what manner of woman it was To suffer as evill doers even for workes of grace is incident to gracious men 2 Tim. 1 12. Davids enemies were moved against him because hee followed goodnesse onely hurt him for that cause that hee would live godly Psal. 38 20. His benefits towards them could not overcome their malice but they requited him with injurie The Apostle puts the case Who is hee that will harme you if yee bee followers of that which is good 1 Pet. 3 13. Hee that studies beneficence and bestowes himselfe in demeriting others one would thinke should soâ—â—en iron minds and Experience teacheth that they that governe their tongue love peace hurt none but apply themselves to doe good to all as they can are lesse obnoxious to the injuries of wicked men but when the quarrell is religion then humanitie is laid aside they that will live according to the doctrin of Christ godly shal suffer for righteousnes Not onely evill men that are murmurers of destinate malice but even good men of some weaknesse either in judgement as they of the circumcision that contended with Peter about his carying the Gospell to the Gentiles and eating with them or of some envy may mislike some good actions as Iosuah misliked and would have had it forbidden that Eldâ—d and Medad prophecied in the Host Numb 11 28 29. It may bee that some man of an evill mind may grudge at a good worke under a faire pretence and deceive some well meaning men and leade them into some murmuring As is thought of Iudas out of covetousnesse grudging at the cost in the oyntment powred upon Christ as wast which might have helped many poore people if it had beene fold and given to them that others of the Disciples were so drawen to mislike it and murmure Marke 14 4 5. Math. 26 with Iohn 12 5 8. Some murmurers are said to speake evill of things they know not a madde boldnesse not fearing to condemne things that exceed their capacitie It is of prostitute ignorance arising of an evill disposition to shew some pride and petulancie to speake evill of things they understand not assenting to the conclusion without knowledge of the true cause In doing our dutie wee must be content with Gods approbation it is enough that we are allowed of God though wee desire also to manifest our selves in the consciences of men our resolution must bee to shew our selves the servants of Christ in good and in evill report when men speake well of us and when they dispraise us wee have one Lord to whom wee stand or fall if we doe of faith what wee doe particular and vniversall we please God and have a good conscience and the fruit of our righteousnesse is peace the effect thereof quietnesse and assurance for ever Esay 32 17. Neither shunne nor cease to doe good though men of ignorance or ill affection be offended We must labour to bee without offence not onely to give none but to take none to make us weake fall or goe backe Two things helpe to this light and love He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him 1 Iohn 2 10. To love ones brother is to bee of a mind well affected towards him shewing it in benevolence and beneficence according to his power and that for Christs sake which ariseth of the light of faith In whose mind the true light Christ apprehended by faith doth shine the Law concerning brotherly love is written in his heart by the Spirit which is a testimonie not onely of his being but abiding in the light persevering in it And this light and knowledge of Gods Commandements so guides him that hee goeth on his journey to heaven which he hath undertaken with expedition without offence or hinderance and love in his heart carries him with respect to the whole law that the Apostle saith hee that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law whatsoever CommandemeÌ„t there is it is comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Love worketh no ill to his neighbour Rom. 13 8 9 10. Charitie behaves not it selfe unseemely seeketh not her owne thinketh not evill c. 1 Cor. 13 5. And it is to bee observed that hee doth not say there is no scandall to him but there is no scandall in him Though many scandalls are offered of the world to him that loves his brother none peirceth into his mind or is so in his mind whereby hee is hindred from leading his life freindly and peaceably with his neighbour Hee so farre offends not and is not offended as hee hath light abiding in him and walkes in it but because hee is but in part taken out of the darkenesse and his love is not perfect therefore in respect of the remainder of ignorance and selfelove unsanctified hee offends and takes offence stumbles in many things but as his knowledge increaseth and his holy love so hee is more pure and without offence for which the Apostle praied for the Philippians that their love might abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that they might bee sincere and without offence till the day of Christ that they might hold on a constant course in their purifie without stumbling this is one great part of their felicitie that love Gods Law nothing shall offend them Psal. 119 165. Most great tranquilitie and true securitie That he was gone to be a guest with one that is a sinner This is that which offends them his fellowship with a sinner It is to bee inquired 1. who is a sinner or in their account such 2. whether it bee a sinne to have fellowship with them A sinner in their account was one of prostituted wickednesse living and taken in notorious and manifest sinnes for which they were excommunicate out of the Synagogue and the Scripture saith some thing to this purpose in degrees of sinnes it seemes more to bee a sinner than to bee ungodly 1 Tim. 1 9. 1 Pet. 4 18. Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appeare Psal. 1 1. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsell of the ungodly nor stood in the way of sinners of the Sodomits it is said they were sinners before the Lord exceedingly Gen. 13 13. They feared not in the sight of the Lord and before his face to designe any wickednesse though never so vile therefore they that sinne with impudencie are said to declare their sinnes like Sodome Esay 3 9. So they began to bee called sinners which fell not of ignorance or weakenesse but did evill of destinate malice without all reverence of God 2. Who offended not in some lesser error or fault but lived in hainous wickednesses 3. Who fell not once into such sinne but by frequent acts acquired an habite exercised in evill it was as their certaine kind of life 4. When they committed their sinnes not in secret
Iohn 18. 6. Hee saith to Peter that if he would bee delivered hee could obtaine of his Father more than twelve Legions of Angels and we reade of one Angell that in a night sâ—ote an hundred fourescore and five thousands that became dead corpses He saith Ioh. 10. 18. that his life was so in his own power that none could take it from him if hee would resist Secondly hee is said to powre out his soule unto death which is more than simplie to dye it is from his heart and of his owne will to give himselfe to death Isay. 53. 12. which appeares in his expression of a great desire to dye for mans salvation Luke 12. So How am I straitned till it be accomplished Which hee expressed also in his desire to eat the last Passover with his Disciples before his death Luke 22. 15. when he was upon the Crosse at his time of his owne will when hee would conserve his bodily nature no longer in vigour he bowed his head and gave up the ghost dyed sooner than they that were crucified with him and so soone as Pilate not knowing the mysterie marveiled at it as extraordinary and the Centurion obserâ—ing his yeelding up the ghost instantly upon a lowde cry concluded that surely hee was the sonne of God There was some thing divine in him for when men breath their last commonly they utter either none or a very weake and low voyce Thirdly hee died in love and obedience to his Father laid downe his life as he had received commandement of his Father Iohn 10 18. So his Father is said to deliver him to death for us all Rom. 8 32. First ordaining his passion for mans salvation Hee is said to have beene delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God Act. 2 23. and Herod Pilate the gentiles and people of Israel are said to do what his hand and counsell determined before to be done Act. 4 28. This way in which God declared his wisedome to bee just in the forgiving of sinnes Rom. 3 25 26. And to set forth his bountifulnesse love and mercie to man in appointing a satisfier for him was ordained before the world unto our glory 1 Cor. 2 7. Secondly though as God hee delivered himselfe to death with the same will action with his Father yet as man his Father inspired the willingnesse and love of which he yeelded himselfe to leath for it was repugnant to his naturall will whereby hee declared some desire to decline it Abba Father â—l things are possible to thee take away this cuppe from mee Yet submitted himselfe to his Fathers will neverthelesse Not what I will but what thou wilt God so made him for a little time inferiour to the Angels for suffering of death Heb. 2. 9. and that the world might see how hee loved his Father and as hee commanded him so hee did even went to meet the Prince of the world comming to him having nothing in him and in this respect hee is called Gods servant the Chosen of God to raise up the tribes of Iacob to restore the preserved of Israel to bee a light to the Gentiles his salvation to the end of the earth Isayaâ— 49. 6. In which service hee employed himselfe and tooke the forme of a servant assumed our nature to unitie of person for the worke of the mediatorship and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse According to the will of his Father fulfilling the ceremoniall Law in his sacrifice and the morall in fulfilling all righteousnesse by the which will of God wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all Heb. 10 9 10. Fourthly hee died of his owne love to man Pro. 8 31. Whose delights were with the sonnes of men hee gave his life for his friends in the greatnesse of his love Iohn 15 13. So his love is set before the gift of himselfe for us Gal. 2. 20. To wash us from our sinnes in his blood to make us kings and Priests to our God Revel 1. 5. As his Father loved him and appointed him to be the mediator in whom whosoever were received into favour should bee received and no otherwise so hee loved us and gave himselfe a ransome for us that the Father might love us with the love wherewith he loved him and that love also bee in us Iohn 17 23 24 26. It was expedient that his death should bee voluntary First for mans justification that as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many might bee righteous as wee were sinners in Adam by imputation of his disobedience before wee had inherent sinne so in Christ by faith wee might bee righteous by imputation of his obedience before wee have inherent righteousnesse as sinne reigned unto death even over theÌ„ that sinned not after the similitude of Adams transgression so grace may reigne through righteousnesse by Iesus Christ unto eternall life Rom. 5 14 19 21. Thus was Adam the figure of Christ. Thus was Christ Gods righteous servant in his obedience righteous in himselfe and the righte ousnesse of them that effectually know him Esay 53 11. Secondly it was expedi ent for his sacrifice that his death should bee in obedience not onely for innocencie not to need to offer for himselfe as the priests of the Law did Heb. 7 26 27. But because obedience with God is more than all burnt offering and sacrifice this being the obedience of such a person being the Sonne hee learned obedience in the things which hee suffered The Lord of the Law willingly submitting himselfe to the Law it did greatly please God His sacrifice was a sweete smelling savour Ephes. 5 2. His father loved him because he laid downe his life for his sheepe such as were given him of his Father Thirdly it was meete also for his victory that his death should bee in obedience and voluntary that as death and the Divell who had the power of it reigned by disobedience so hee by obedience might overcome and tryumph in his Crosse where hee shewed obedience hee spoiled principalities and powers disarmed them and made a shew of them openly and tryumphed over them so they have no more power to accuse them that are in Christ or to require them of Gods justice to punishment for their disobedience Sinne is put out of authoritie in the flesh of Christ and the whole right of the Law fullfilled in them that walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8 3 4. Because Christs obedience or righteousnesse which is reall and inherent in him is so imputed to them as if they had done it themselves Which well knowne and digested may be a great encouragement to come to Christ for salvation seeing hee gave himselfe so willingly and with such great desire to death in obedience to his Fathers will to save the world by him and salvaton being
now preached in his name how can wee say any thing to excuse our not receiving him and life with him hee being straitned and pained with strong desire to shed his blood for reconciliation betweene God and man and he is now set forth unto us for propitiation through faith in his blood let us abhorre flownesse of heart to beleeve in him and with all boldnesse imbrace the benefit of Christ Heb. 10 22. Let him see in us the travell of his soule to his satisfaction Esay 53. 11. The affluence of burdened sinners to him to finde rest for their soules is the fruite of his passion the satisfying of his desire in it the prospering of the good pleasure of God in his hand Say with the Church I am my beloveds seeing his desire is towards mee because hee hath so freely loved mee when I was wholly turned away from him and was his enemie as in desire to save me to give himselfe for me I resolve to yeeld up my selfe to him Cant. 7 10. This is the pleasure of Christ and his Church that their bed is greene Cant. 1 16. that there is still an increase of faithfull ones And this faith by which wee looke up to Christ for salvation is the eye which so much doth affect him as hee is no more his owne but theirs that so beleeve in him Cant. 4. 9. If we could weigh this well that Christ is so delighted with our faith by which as by our eye wee behold him as sent of God to save us how should it make us to burne in desire to have this faith more and more which is but one though it have diverse degrees Our faith in him is the end of the Gospell as the end of his passion and the end of it the salvation of our soules 1 Peter 1 9. Let this love of his wherby hee willingly met his death for our salvation move us to labour to know this love which passeth knowledge Ephes. 3. 19. which as his banner is lifted up to gather his to him allured by his love Cant. 2. 4. and admiring it to bee moved to burne in our love to him as the Church is said to be sicke of love the coales thereof to be coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Cant. 8 6. So possessed of the love of Christ that wee bee wholly to him 2 Cor. 5 14. And so know this love not onely as our motive to love him but our patterne to love such as hee commends to our love so is his commandement that wee love one another as he hath loved us Iohn 13 His love to us is as his fathers to him purely gracious as his father received not of him but gave to him so hee received not first of us to love us for our love but when there was nothing to incline him towards us to bee considered in us he loved us gave us even himselfe Thus let our love bee to others not first because wee receive of them but freely of goodnes put into us by the Spirit of Christ inclined to p 〈…〉 cure their good Let it direct our obedience unto God unto Christ that it be of a ready minde though in difficult things and such as our nature rightly would decline yet denying our selves we submit to him that is the Lord of our life and death as he submitted to his Father As Peter stretching forth his hands to bee bound and led to death by others in respect of his naturall will is said to bee led whither hee would not Iohn 21. 18. yet of obedience and feare of God choosing death for the safetie of Christs cause to glorifie God by his confession of the truth thus is the obedience more glorious being performed by grace against reluctation of nature Yet where there is reluctation of corrupt nature the excellency of obedience is lesse though grace get the victory for to the performance of the Law it is required that a man shall not lust have no motion bee it never so small contrary to Gods Law The perfection of that which is good is when there is not so much as concupiscence of sinne in a man if there bee never so little a motion step ping aside from the love of God and from his obedience in love it is evidently a breach of the Law our Saviour had no manner of corruption in him to wrestle or strive against the will of God And passed through Ieri 〈…〉 behold there was a man c. Iericho was singularly subjected to the malediction of God so as whosoever should rebuild it God having destroyed it should be judged with the death of his eldest sonne in laying the foundation and of his youngest in his hanging up the gates of it which curse tooke hold of one Hiel a Bethelite in the dayes of Aâ—hab who presuming to build it againe was condemned of madnesse in provoking God by the death of his progenie his eldest sonne Abiram at his laying the foundation of it and his youngest sonne Segub in his hanging up of the gates of it It was the first Citty that the Israelites tooke after their passage ouer Ioden and that by speciall miracle in the falling downe of the walles by the blast of Rams-hornes and dejection of the hearts of the inhabitants therefore as a first fruits with the whole spoyle of it was coÌ„sâ—â—rated to the Lord. Secondly and the severitie used against it might strike a terror into other Citties that would not yeeld themselves Thirdly to bee a memoriall of Gods power in making such a Citty for walls so defenced by an easie and unlikelie way to bee a ruinous heape with incouragement to his people to undertake hard things at his appointment and to excite their thankefulnesse for victory and possession of all which they obtained That this cursed Cittie yeelds some to bee heires of blessing wee may gather that place is no let to Gods calling his election shall be executed in due time whersoever his people bee they bee neither all in one people Revel 7 9. nor in one place but dispersed and scattered abroad Iohn 11 52. but they are Gods Children by predestination to the adoption in Christ and the Lord that knowes who bee his will weale them out by his calling select them out of the world how vile soever the place of their aboade 〈◊〉 Bethsaida was a wick 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and for impenitencie and rebellion worse than Tyrus and Sdon which were infamous for impiety pride luxurie and other vices Mat. 11 21. Yet yeelded three to Christs kingdome and they also Apostles Phillip whom Christ going forth into Galilce called immediatly to follow him is said of bee at Bethsaida the Cittie of Andrew and Peter Iohn 1 43 44. Samaria was justly hatefull to the Iewes not as Gentiles and the dregges of diverse nations a mungrill people onely but for corruption of religion impious confusion the Children of the Captivitie having
libertie to build the house of God would not admit them to build with them when they offered it because they counted them Gentiles and some Apostaticall corrupters of the true religion that had nothing to doe in the worke and they declared themselves after to bee enemies hindering the worke all they could The woman whom Christ converted at the Well said not without some insulting and contempt The Iewes have no dealing with the Samaritans and some malicious Iewes when they would bavespit fire in the face of Christ and knew not what to say bad inough call him in reproach as a detestable man Samaritan Iohn 8 48. Yet the Citty Sychar in 〈◊〉 Country yeelded many beleevers to Christ who shewed their love to him intreating him to tarry with them to whom hee condescended for two dayes And that one who of ten Lepers that were healed alone returned to give thankes was a Samaritan Luke 17 16. Paul upon his calling to Christianity and Apostleship began his worke in Arabia among a savage and wilde people living by robbing of passengers of whom in common reason there was little hope Ier. 3 2. First Gods counsell that hee hath taken of them cannot bee disappointed his decrees will bring forth Christ will bring his and they shall heare his vovce Iohn 10 16. he must reigne in the midst of his enemies and takes away the malediction for sinne to make men that beleeve in him Children of blessing It is to the glory both of the power of God in pulling them as it were out of hell and his goodnesse in such an excellent and memorable benefit to exalt them to such dignitie from such depth of dishonour It may encourage the servants of God to be doing his workes in any place where hee sends them though he doe not tell them as he did Paul what a multitude hee hath of his people concerning election that hee will have called by their labours there Yet the 〈◊〉 of peace will finde out the sonnes of peace in what house so ever they bee and the doctrine of peace shall bee effectuall in them by his blessing that sends them and where it is not received yet their peace shall returne to them the peace of a good conscience in the faithfull performance of their dutie Luke 10 5 6. It may stay prejudice whereby men forestal themselves against the report of good persons and sticke to acknowledge the truth by hard conceit of the place This prejudice of the vilenesse and ignoblenesse of place hindred the credit of Philips report of Christ in the heart of Nathaniel in that hee said hee was of Nazareth whence was that voice of doubt and diffidence Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth Nichodemus alledging the Law in Christs defence as requiring an orderly proceeding is flouâ—ed with Galilec in contempt of the place it was not knowen that ever Galilee a Prophet and can it yeeld the Messiah It s poore reasoning for such learned men It is not knowne to have sent forth a Prophet therefore it cannot for ever thus hurtfull is prejudice of place It may bee most effectuall consolation to such as God hath called in such places that neither the sinnes of the place where they lived nor their owne 〈◊〉 in which they lived could hinder the love of God to shew them mercie in calling them if God so loved them being enemies what shall separate them from his love beeing reconciled Rom. 5 10. 8. 39. They may bee assured that place shall not hinder their acceptance in their fearing God and working righteousnesse Act. 10 35. Yea it addes some thing to the honour of religiousnesse that is maintained in most wicked places where Gods providence assignes to men their habitations Revel 2 13. I know where thou dwellest even where Satan hath his throne where the governement was for the Devill the governers car 〈…〉 by his impulsion to idolatrie and all evill there to keepe faith and good Conscience is praise the goodnesse amplified by the infamy of the place As on the contrary it aggâ—avates wickednesse that it is done in a land of uprightnesse Esay 26 10. In every place and in all things all men should doe rightly but among the Saints and in a holy place where the Lords presence majestie and high hand is manifested in a speciall sort to doe wickedly adds much to the sinfullnesse And behold c. This Particle of demonstrating usually implies two things 1. The certaintie of the matter as if our eyes saw it 〈◊〉 and worthy our attention referred to the storie it leads us to this observation that the worke of God in the conversion of such a sinner is to be observed Verily all the workes of the Lord are great are to be sought out of all that have pleasure therein are knowne of them which are delighted in the consideration of them Every thing that hee hath done is beautifull and glorious in all his workes there shineth forth a marveilous brightnesse compelling the minds of men that doe behold them to give him glory and honour that gracious and mercifull Lord hath appointed for us a solemne memory of his benefits They array him with beautie and glory they decke him with excellencie and sublimitie Iob. 40 5. In creation hee is wonderfull unto astonishment Psal. 8 1. Psal. 139. 14. In providence past our finding out yet every thing beautifull in his time but when wee doe looke upon his worke we do behold it only as it were a farre off as distance diminisheth the appearance of things because our eyesight reacheth not so farre which wee have experience of in the Sunne which to us seemes as if it were not aboue two foote broad yet they which are acquainted with secrets of nature shew that it is much greater thaÌ„ the whole earth But wee should intend our ability to looke so farre into 〈◊〉 as to magnifie them 〈◊〉 wee are called upon to remember this Iob 36 24 25. In the worke of God bestowed upon sinners we are to magnifie the exceeding greatnesse of Gods power as in raising the dead Ephe. 1 19 his abundant grace and love as the Churches glorified God for Paul that preached the faith which he had destroyed It may be a helpe to faith a cure of diffidence armour against temptatioÌ„ to behold and wisely to consider Gods great love and mercie in receiving great sinners causeing them to come to him there may bee seene that which was impossible with men to bee possible with God and conceive hope we must by such patternes 〈◊〉 Gods long suffering 1 Tim. 1. 16. In such great Cures God doth like Physicians who to invite the diseased to come to them with hope shew some example of their art and skill in the perfect curation of some desperately weake and sicke So God setts such sinners in healeing of them and saving them before others to the end of the world
though like a reede halfe broken and smoking weeke almost gone out for want of oyle yet will hee attemperate himselfe to their infirmitie till hee kindle in them light more full and supplie them with solide strength This appeares in Zacheus and in many the little sparkles of faith and hope in whom hee excites of his immeasurable goodnesse Certaine workings there bee in the hearts of men that are of the efficacy of the Spirit yet not well knowne to them to bee so The Apostle speaking of the Spirits helpe in our infirmities when wee know not what to pray as wee ought saith that hee himselfe maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot bee uttered not onely for that they are for a thing unutterable as heavenly glory or that they cannot bee sufficiently spoken according to their proceeding from the holy Ghost but because breaking into them by the Spirits impulsion they farre passe the capacity of our witts and wee scarce discerne what our owne hearts meane our affections being much oppressed with darknesse they bee certaine inarticulate groanes and breathings which the searcher of the hearts knowes with approbation to be the inspirations of his owne Spirit disburdening us into Gods lappe or bosome Mary the sister of Lazarus annointing Iesus his feete with precious ointment is defended by him against the murmour and censure of Iudas at the wast as hee called it that she had kept it against the day of his burying It was not lost but kept she did that now which she could not doe at his buriall God so governing her mind that at this time shee should poure it upon the Lord to signifie his death and buriall to bee at hand so was it done for funerall service it is not like that she had any further intent than to shew her love in the honouring of Christ and to refresh his spirits by the sweete savour of the oyntment as it is said oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart Prov. 27 9. but the Spirit of God impelling her heart burning in love to Christ with desire to doe thus foresaw further and directed the fact to this end which Christ speakes of So are men moved by the holy Ghost to something with further scope than they presently understand The Disciples of Christ much people that were come to the feast and children were caried to receive Christ comming to Ierusalem with the joyfull shout of a King unwonted acclamations and honour given him in spreading their garments in the way By some others cutting downe branches from the trees and strewing them in the way ascribing to him kingdome power of saving Hosanna to the Son of David First pray to him for salvation Hosanna in the highest In part out of the words of the Psalme 118 25. Save now Secondly blesse him Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Thirdly and his kingdome Blessed be the kingdome of our father David that commeth in the name of the Lord with this gratulatory addition Peace in heaven and glory in the highest places It angred the Pharises to heare it they disdained that hee should receive Testimonie of Children willed him to rebuke his Disciples hee defends both the Children from Psal. 8 2. Out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise the Disciples with necessitie of their duty which if they failed in the stones would immediately cry out Luke 19 36 40. All this by secret instinct they were excited by internall â—fficacie of the Spirit but the meaning of this was unknowne to the Disciples themselves till Iesus was glorified Iohn 12 16. yet in due time the fruit appeared Thus God brings on his worke To observe secret motions unto good though you perceive not where they shall end yet attend Gods workeâ— out of small beginnings great workes are brought forth by him who passeth on and goeth by us when wee cannot finde him out Iob 9 11. When one that was before carelesse of Christ heares such a description of him in which is set forth his excellencie so as he is convinced they are the only holy happy people that are joyned to him that their earnest love to him is not without just cause so begin to inquire how hee may meete with him where hee may seeke him let him not despise it let him thinke with himselfe is not God come to mee with offer of himselfe This light and motion seemes more than naturall it is a good steppe towards good when men begin to inquire after the Lord Iesus are desirous to know him and how to have their desire satisfied Cant. 5 9 6 1. Desire implyeth some measure of knowledge of the worth of that which is desired Iohn 4 10. and love of it so knowne where more love is there is more desire which in a sert makes the desiring apt and ready to the receiving of the desired as it is at least probably said That they in whom love is more full to God shall see him more perfectly and so bee more blessed for the faculty of seeing God not agreeing to the created understanding according to the nature of it as it is now but by the light of glorie the more it partakes of that light the more perfectly it seeth God and the more love a man hath the more hee participates of that light because there is more desire which shall bee satisfied Love declared by obedience hath promise of further revelation of Christ and Communion with God Iohn 14 21 23. Zacheus of some love to Christ as the sequele declares desiring to see him comming downe at his bidding to receive him to his house enjoyed him in an excellent measure of his grace Faith not being yet framed in him as it may seeme how could there bee love in his heart to Christ and thence desire unto him did hee looke for more in Iesus than the outward sight of his person Sure he looked for more for it is not likely that hee would with neglect of his reputation being a principall man for state and prioritie in his calling and in the sight of a great multitude climbe up like a boy into a tree without regard of the scornes of men onely to see any Prince in the world 2. Did Christ so regard any that came meerely to see him 3. Would hee with such speed and joy come downe and receive him to his house and so professe workes testifying repentance to Christ if there had not beene more than a desire of an outward sight of him His affection to Christ in such fervencie may bee ascribed to the knowledge that hee had gotten of Christ and himselfe of himselfe to bee a great sinner whose sinnes God would not suffer alwayes to goe unpunished of Christ that he was not onely a great Prophet but the Saviour that should come into the world the Sonne of David exercising mercie not onely in miraculous cures of the body but in forgiving
madnesse Though God deferre his elect that cry unto him night and day yet when their time is come that hee should judge for them he will avenge them speedily Luke 18 7 8. Speedily in respect of the wicked who are suddenly destroyed while they had no such thought and feared nothing yet though God suffer them with long patience As the Israelites were brought out of Egypt with a strong hand and their oppressers overwhelmed the same day that God had promised Exod. 12 41. When the houre was come that was appointed for the death of Christ how doth hee hasten to it as is to bee gathered by his speech to Iudas with the soppe discovering him to bee the traytor That which thou dost do quickly meaning the betraying of him into the hands of wicked men which hee was with full purpose rowling in his mind Till then hee over-ruled the Divell to whom hee now permitted him and left him to his owne malice As if he should say hasten thy selfe to the treason which irrevocably thou art set to doe and thine owne destruction seeing thou wilt needs perish me to the worke that I am to finish by my death which for mans redemption salvatiō I so greatly desire He is good and doth good his owne goodnesse moves him Psal. 119 68. The good pleasure of his goodnesse is that which impells him 2 Thess. 1 11. The propense and pleasing inclination of his will to the good of men his selfe-propension to diffuse his benefits is the fountaine of all that good wee receive and it is the spirituall ground-worke of our prayers He delights in exercising loving kindnesse Ier. 9 24. And mercie pleaseth him Mich. 7 18. He will waite that he may bee gracious unto his people he will bee exalted that hee may have mercie upon them which turnes unto the highnesse of his name and greatnesse of his glory he is a God of judgement in all things propense unto moderation convenient for their salvation Esay 30 18. Which may serve to incourage the weake whose faith is sometimes shaken by misinterpreting Gods deferring to heare their prayers as if it were a deniall or that hee regarded not their state which the Lord is pleased to take notice of and to give helpe against Esay 49. 15 16 17. But Sion said the Lord hath for saken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Vnto which he answeres three things for incouragement First that hee neither hath nor will nor can forsake and forget her Which he illustrates by comparing and preferring his compassion towards them to the compassion of a mother to the Sonne of her wombe It is given to the mother commonly to love more tenderly than the father therefore he compares his love with the mothers love and not simply her love to the sonne of her wombe but that suckes her breasts towards whom a mothers affection is not overcome with labour or any kind of molestation but with unremitted care she indures to give it sucke to nourish it and foster it And scarse is it to be expressed how she is affected with the smiles or afflicted with the cries of it specially being pressed with any danger Whereby Solomon found out in his wisedome the true mother of the child challenged by two women when the true mother heard of the dividing of it betweene them her bowels yerned were hot upon her sonne and would in no wise have it slaine 1 King 3. 25. 26. Againe if the soule in temptation except against this comfort and say Experience shewes that some mothers doe loose naturall affection and regard not the children of their wombe no not then when they are not long from their birth God answers to that though created nature may defect and turne monstrous yet the supreame and uncreated nature is so perfect that it cannot change And that is the first thing which may specially comfort Godly tender mothers in such temptation about Gods leaving his care of them If their affection bee such to their children can Gods be lesse to them They cannot forget nor forsake theirs will they thinke that their affection is not equalled by God yea overmatched and exceeded being infinite Secondly a second thing is that God will not forget his for this reason hee will have them ever in his sight as graven upon the palmes of his hands as things in account and precious are minded As the gold finer sits by the fire into which he hath put his gold to melt to take it out in due time and his eye is still upon it hee neglects it not Malach. 3 3. God withdrawes not his eyes from the righteous Thirdly a third thing for their answere is that the time of their reliefe being come their comfort shall be hasted in the departing of the instruments of affliction in the coming of such as shall build them up with new accesse of members of the Church multiplication of Gods people that the joy shall exceed your sorrowes It may silence such godlesse persons as would destroy the faith of Gods promises in the hearts of his people by his deferring so long the fulfilling of them First they misaccount time it is not long that God deferres compared with eternitie following one day and a thousand yeares are alike and differ not concerning that which belongs to proportion of infinite time both in comparison of eternitie is but as a point of time in comparison of time The eternitie of God coexisteth indivisibily with any duration and with the least part thereof even a moment The parts of our duration which are passed or which shall passe away either have beene or shall bee but are not Gods eternitie is an interminable whole and perfect possession of his life together All things that have being may be said to coexist with God in eternity or eternity with thē by objective though not any reall existence as the objects of the knowledg power of God Knowne unto God are all his workes from the beginning of the world Act. 15 18. By his eternall counsell he disposed all things in the best sort and from eternitie there is with him the best reason of his counsels and doings He needes not time to discusse causes to inquire after iniquities and search out sinnes for his dayes are not as the dayes of man or his yeares as mans dayes distributed into spaces of dayes and yeares his life is not as mans Secondly they falsly accuse God of slacknesse as it is among men counted a fault which is a deferring of any thing beyond the due time appointed God hath times and seasons in his owne power so as opportunitie shall not slide away from him his promise which is for an appointed time shall surely come and not tary at the end shall speake and not lye Hab. 2 3. Thirdly let it provoke us to bee followers of God in this as he slackes not to doe good to his people in fit time so let us observe
opportunities and seasons of doing good and not let them slip Eccles. 11 6 but sow our seed in the morning and not let our hand rest in the evening and worke the workes of him that sent us while it is day Iohn 9 4. Waiting for occasions as Abraham in his tent doore being given to hospitalitie who spying three men as he thought comming in the way ranne to meete them and to invite them a proofe of sound love to shew kindnesse to unknowne men of whom he neither had nor hoped for exchange of good turnes Integritie being more then hospitality might be used with lesse daunger than now in so great persidiousnesse of men Grace makes a man pompt and readie to gracious acts The liberall man deviseth liberall things contrary to the churle and by liberall things shall be established Esay 32 8. To day I must abide at thy house He had taken up his heart and now proceeds to take up his house for his lodging Thus of his owne goodnesse God is pleased to follow his owne favours as the Princes of this world sometimes do to their favorites till they make them great but there is a wide difference Yet in both freely and because they have set their hearts upon them for good they wil honour them God will perfect his good worke which he once begins in his toward their salvation and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in them as the Prophet saith The Lord will perfect that which concerneth mee He will proceede to declare that hee hath care of my salvation and what hee hath begun he will through even unto the last act Men by inconstancie caried another way what they unadvisedly entred upon with levitie they relinquish or are constreined by infirmitie to omitte what above their strength they attempted But no such thing can be fall God whose gifts and calling are without repentance hee neither fainteth nor is weary hee cannot change his nature nor put of his goodnesse wherewith he is indued hee will not frustrate our hope in the middle of our course but they that wait upon him shall renew their strength As hee redeemeth our life from death so he Crownes us with loving knindnesse and tender mercies and satisfieth his people with his goodnesse Ierem. 31 14. Hee causeth their light to spring out in the darkenesse and their darknesse by increased light to bee as the noone day he droppes in his love by degrees till he make their peace full He circumciseth our hearts to love and desire him and rewards that love which is his owne worke with new proofe of his love I love them that love me and they that seeke me early shall finde me Proverbs 8. 17. His reloving is that hee gives himselfe to be enjoyed of them which with love do seeke him to whom wisedome is consubstantiall or in communicating testimonies of good will as imputing or rendering unto them righteousnesse being favourable to them shewing them his face unto their joy powring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them leading them more perfectly in the wayes of his commandements Increase of grace is given to them that rightly use the first grace by way of reward Psal. 84 11. To them that walke uprightly God giveth grace His beneficence flowes out dayly unto them having imbraced them with his favour hee ceaseth not to inrich them with his gifts To you that heare shall more be given Marke 4 24. He gives them grace more plentifully that receive with profit the word which hee sends unto them having his words and keepeth them beleeving them and submitting the minde and the heart to them meditating and transferring them to use liberally communicating them to the benefit of others not having the treasure of heavenly wisedome negligently as the unprofitable servant had his Talent but with diligence to good use they shall have more committed to their trust for hee that is faithfull in that which is least is faithfull also in much Luke 16 10. He that loveth Christ and keepeth his Cōmandements though that love bee of God shall bee loved of his Father and hee will love him and will manifest himselfe to him and they will come to him and make their abode with him The love which he promiseth is not that wherewith hee begins to love us but of which hee begins to reward us with new accesse of his grace and within graving the Testimony of his Fatherly love in our hearts The love of the Trinitie towards us is eternal and explicated by every difference of time Iohn 3 16. God so loved the world that hee gave his onely begotten Sonne Iohn 16 27. The Father himselfe loveth you because you have loved mee Iohn 14 21 Hee that loveth me shall beloved of my Father Shall perceive the grace of God to reside in him which shall be increased in new gifts I will blesse him with increase of his knowledge of me to find in me more and more the comfort of his happinesse and matter of his love to mee that by his owne delight and desire hee shall bee tyed to me hee shall come neerer and neerer to me and rejoyce in the sweetnesse of my familiaritie and wee will come to him unto an increase of union and make him shine and send forth beames of heavenly righteousnesse which the world will they nill they shall take notice of and we will make our abode with him not tarry with him a little time and then depart from him but for ever he shall have our presence here and in heaven thus good is the Lord. Hee knowes us hee makes us to know him hee loveth us hee makes us to love him hee covenants with us hee makes us to covenant with him takes pleasure in us and makes us take pleasure in him hee liveth in us and maketh us live in him hee walkes and talkes with us and wee walke and talke with him all of his owne good will to sill us with his fullnesse This proceeding from his beginning to the consummation of our salvation is grounded and assured upon his faithfullnesse 1 Cor. 1 9. 1 Thess. 5. 24. Two blessings are specially promised to them whom God hath called to the fellowship of his Sonne one confirmation unto the end or as 2 Thess. 3 3 preservation from evill unmoveably to persist in goodnesse notwithstanding temptation that the evill one touch them not v. 23 with any deadly wound For hee is in them who hath overcome the divell the world sinne and death greater than he that is in the world 1 Iohn 4 4. Hee shall not touch them with a qualitative touch to alter their qualitie from good to evill that they should lose their gracious disposition and prove perverse The other blessing is the fulfilling of their sanctification to the blamelesnesse of their whole spirit soule and body Because hee is faithfull in his promises and constant in his gifts 1 Thess. 5 23 24.
consolation with it where Christ comes there is joy So in the prophecie of his comming Zach. 9 9 and in the accomplishment Luke 19 37. The whole multitude began to reioyce and to prayse God with a lowd voyce When the people in Samaria gave heede to Philip preaching Christ unto them there was great joy in that Citie which was the fruit of their faith as of the Eunuchs who went on his way rejoycing Act. 8 8 39 And the Iaylers who rejoyced beleeving in Goâ— â—ct 16 34. Peter joy 〈…〉 〈…〉 th faith as the fruit of it joy unspeakeable either because the matter of it is such and so great as passeth facultie of humane speech to expresse it not possible for man to utter 2 Cor. 12 4. Or for the greatnesse of the contentment so as no words can declare it to another what hee feeles within as he said before Wherein ye greatly rejoyce The stranger medles not with his joy and full of glorie no affliction can destroy it nothing can frustrate it it ends not in shame as reprobates joy it is stable and solide and is a certaine participation of the Lords joy which shall bee in the state of glory 1 Pet. 1 6 8 All facultie failes for the commendation of it and it selfe is the fruit of the Spirit of glory which failes not but is everlasting joy gloriously given of Christ. It is one of the marks of a Christian to put his whole confidence for fulnesse of felicitie in Christ alone so as to rejoyce in him rejoycing in nothing but in his crosse Gal. 6 14. In which is the fullnesse of our redemption Philip 3 3. Wee which rejoyce in Christ Iesus and put no confidence in the flesh ascribe our whole salvation and whatsoever goodgift of vertue or pietie whatsoever a Christian as such rightly glorieth in unto his onely merit Both just and great cause of joy there is in their â—eceiving of Christ Abraham that saw his day but a farre off yet rejoyced to see it Iohn 8 56. And all the faithfull before his comming made him their consolation Luke 2 25. First the incomparable excellencie in himselfe is cause of great joy to them that receive him hee is from heaven and above all such a bridegroome is worthily the joy of the bride Iohn 3 29 31. As his excellencie above all other makes him desired being knowne it drawes hearts to him when the Church described him and concludes her description thus Hee is altogether lovely adorning her description with a redoubled exclamation to the daughters of Ierusalem This is my beloved and this is my freind They not onely justifie her passions of love for him but are themselves in love with him and inquire after him with her to joyne themselves to him so holds it them to him with delight who have him counting him their full felicitie Wee will rejoyce and bee glad in thee wee will remember thy love more than wine Nothing is there in the world that seemes not vile to them in comparison of him Canticles 1 4. 2. The benefits which they receive with Christ are all matters of great joy They have him as the first effect of their election the gift of the love of God wherewith hee loved them from the beginning of this they have abundantly to rejoyce that their names are written in heaven Luke 10 20. Secondly the reconciliation and peace which they have with God So as hee is now their God and all his attributes for their benefit that they have all parts and numbers of felicitie having him and which is the highest degree of all glorying they glorie in God Thirdly having Christ they have an everlasting righteousnesse the righteousnesse of God who being favourable unto man will render unto him his righteousnesse and grant him to bee arraied in fine â—innen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints Revel 19 8 Thus is the bride made readie to meet her beloved unto the solemnitie of their mariage and most joyfull imbracements Fourthly they receive dignitie to bee the sonnes of God a benefit evidencing the love of God beyond all that our thoughts are able to comprehend therefore the Apostle propounds it with admiration Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that wee should bee called the Sonnes of God 1 Iohn 3 1. Behold sometime im plieth experiment with pleasure with joyfullnesse and alacritieâ— of mind it calls upon us to apply our mind to waigh and looke duely into the greatnesse of the benefit that being perpensive wee might come to a right prizing and valuation of the blessings it containes to conceive some singular sweetnesse of Gods favour affected therewith unto rejoycing wee may study to walke worthy of God They have the nature of God borne nor of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Iohn 1 13. They have accesse to God a singular priviledge adduction into his presence by one Spirit Ephes. 2 18 Who makes requests for them according to the will of God Rom. 8 27. The sonnes of God are led by the Spirit of God who workes their workes in them and produceth their pleasant fruits exciting and confirming their will for good quickening and comforting them preserving and increasing the life of God in them causing strength to grow in their soules to victory over the world their standing in grace after all assaults and so is the Spirit of glory resting upon them 1 Pet. 4 The earnest of salvation with eternall glory They have interest in God for his speciall providence as David claimes I am thine save mee Psalme 119 94. The Church Esay 63 16. Doubtlesse thou art our Father thou O Lord art our Father 19. Wee are thine So his eye is over them Psal. 33 18. Hee withdraw es not his eyes from them Iob 36 7. Hee that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye he loveth them with the same love wherewith hee loveth his owne Sonne Iesus Christ Iohn 17 26. They have their right unto and dominion over all things restored all is theirs with Christ whom God hath appointed heire of all things and they coheires to inherit all things with him Rom. 8 17. 1 Cor. 3 22. Revel 21 7. This is no small part of the joy of their faith that whether they bee things present or things to come all are theirs Seeing Christ received by faith brings such matter of joy it is to their reproofe who have him and his blessing constantly offered yet receive him not 1 It is indignitie offered to Christ whom they refuse 2. It is the wronging of their owne soules Prov. 8 36. Hee that sinneth against me wrongeth his owne soule all they that hate mee love death Infidelitie is two wayes considered First of mere negation as in them who never heard of Christ called infidels of not having the faith which is a punishment rather than a sinne Such are damned
for their sinnes because no sinne can be pardoned but by faith in Christ but not for not beleeving in him of whom they have not heard Iohn 15 22. Rom. 10 14. Of contrarietie of faith when men reject Christ will not receive him the will standing in opposition to the hindering of the mindes assent to the truth resisting both interior instinct and exterior preaching whereby Christ with his saving power is offered This hath the reason of sinne and condemnes men makes them guiltie of the body and blood of Christ in an unworthy rejecting of him Iohn 1 11. Hee came unto his owne and his owne received him not Iohn 5 40. Ye will not come to mee that ye might have life 43. I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive mee not Some profanely set light by him and his grace as Esa 〈…〉 despised his birthright in comparison of a morsell of meat Heb. 12 16. And they that were called to the marriage Supper of the kings sonne set light by it for their worldly advantages Luke 14 18 with one consent making excuse and when they feare that his presence will bee any losse in their temporall state they wilfully reject him as the Gadarens for the losse of their hoggs and shew a notable unthankefullnesse offering vile indignitie to Christ in preferring and redeeming base things with a wilfull losse of him and his salvation So they wrong their own soules as the rich man that had his whole and full portion in good things in his life time and cast away his soule Luke 16 25. Some love darkenesse so as the light is hatefull to them because it discovers the evill of their works which they are not willing to accuse themselves of and come to the soveraigne remedie of their soules to bee healed This is condemnation the jâ—st cause of their perishing not that they are in darkenesse ignorant of the way of salvation nor that they are in sinnes for Christ helps both hee is the light of the world that whosoever beleeveth in him shall not walke in darknesse but shall have the light of life and hee came into the world to save sinners But that the light being come into the world they love darkenesse rather than light and the cause is that their deeds bee evill They have an evill conscience and will not bee cured they worthily perish without pitty the love of their vices keepes them from imbracing the fountaine of vertue They are withheld by a most wicked cause from yeilding themselves to so gracious a remedie As they justly are damned that had the truth which saveth but loved it not having pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thess 2 10 1â— In not receiving Christ they are greivous unto God who hath given this record of his Sonne that hee hath given eternall life unto the world and that life is in his Sonne and whosoever hath his Sonne hath life They that receive not Christ upon this record of God give no credit to him so blaspheame him to bee a lyer 1 Iohn 5 10 Fearing least they should bee deceived in resting upon his promise To derogate faith from the Gospell in which Gods truth and faithfullnesse is chiefly set forth when men spoyle him of the honour of his truth what leave they remaining to him Light of nature teacheth that God is the prime veritie truth it selfe and so is to be beleeved in whatsoever hee avoucheth to bee true whatsoever hee testifieth of his Sonne all that have notice of it are bound to credit God hath testified that Christ is the life of the world that there is not salvation in any other this record I am bound to beleeve with an historicall faith but where hath hee said that he is my life that requires an inward testimonie which till I have received I seeme not to wrong God I must first have his record before I be guiltie of not receiving it There is a double act of faith direct which is my receiving Christ that I may bee saved committing my soule to him to deliver mee from death and to restore mee to my lost happinesse which is called faith of adherence This I am bound unto by the exterior record which in the Gospell God hath given of his Sonne and the Apostle to incite men to faith takes his argument from the dishonour which is done to God in not resting on his record to the receiving of his Sonne unto life The holy Ghost convinceth the world of sinne in the ministerie of the Gospell because they beleeve not in Christ Iohn 16 9. Not onely that all the world out of Christ are in their sinnes but that this is a sinne which they had not before they heard him preached to bee the Saviour of the word that they beleeve not in him for justification from their sinnes Iohn 15 22. There is also an act reflexe which is called faith of evidence which is to bee assured of my salvation upon the inward testimonie of God in my selfe the evidence of his grace in me that I doe indeed beleeve and am converted from sinne to holinesse that I have the witnesse of the water and blood in mee of regeneration and justification by Christ wee know that wee have passed from death to life because wee love the bretheren 1 Iohn 3 14. I have written these things to you that beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life 1 Iohn 5 13. The first act of faith is without experience before it but the word which wee have received as the word of God workes in us that beleeve and so wee have experience to an increase of our faith It is to their reproofe that though they subject their hearts to the Commandement of hearing Christ and beleeving in him and labour to worke the worke of God in beleeving in him whom hee hath sent yet sensible of their unbeleeve and fearing least it may hinder the good which they desire do goe on unchearefully They consider not that God requires their joy in the knowledge of him to be the Lord which exerciseth loving kindnessâ— in the earth and doth therein delight Ier. 9 24. And how mercie pleaseth him where men will give place to it waiting that hee may have mercie on them his pleasure being in them that wait on his mercie Psal. 147 11. And how hee cherisheth the least beginnings of faith when it is as a smoaking flaxe or bruised reed Math. 12 20. how readily Christ apprehends us when wee though weakly lay hold on him They observe not the change wrought in them and the spirituallnesse of their actions now in comparison of that they were before they received this seed which God giveth life unto The new creature is but as an infant in them in the understanding of this and the great consequence of it in the evidencing of Christ in them otherwise it is joyfull They marke not how that little faith is
disquieting the heart Esay 51 12 Who art thou that thou shouldest feare c. Marke 4 40. 3 It where great injurie to God a hatefull unthankefullnesse to be carelesse of receiving such mercie or stirring up our selves to get it when wee know God giveth it Esay 56 2. 1 Iohn 5 9 10. Iohn 14 11 Beleeve mee at least beleeve mee for the worke sake I am bound to beleeve God testifying to my heart that I am in grace and to rest in his testimony not to neglect it I am more bound when by his workes hee proves his authoritie to commaund me My sinne is greater if I doe not Iohn 15 Else they should not have had sinne Workes within are great witnesses 3. It is expedient it is of great profit to a man to know that hee is in grace 1. To justifie the ministerie under which hee hath gotten life 2 Cor. 3 2. 2 Cor. 5 11 and 13 5. 2 To worke love to God for love knowne 1 Iohn 4 10 16. 3. To doe God free service without servile feare as our dutie is Psal. 2. With feare that hath rejoycing in assurance of his favour and so without feare Luke 1 74. For inforcements by love to give our selves to God Rom. 6. Rom. 12 1. To dye to our selves 2 Cor. 5. Gal. 6. whereby I am crucified to the world and the world to me By Christ. 4. For sufferings for Christ knowing what his sufferings for us hath made us to bee possessed or in hope of after wee suffered a little Rom. 5. Heb. 10 34. 5. For putting on graces meet for such as are so much above others bound to God and therefore to doe as becomes them Exhortations have their ground from hence that they are and know themselves to bee in such a state Coloss. 3 12. 1 Thess. 5 8. 4. It is granted to most of them that are in grace to all before their spirit bee called for to returne to him that gave it to know that they shall bee saved The sending of the Angels to bring them to heaven implies some certificate of it from God to their soules as at Christs comming the just know their sentence and are filled with joy at the immediate signes of the judges comming before they heare it Iohn writes generally signes to know that wee have eternall life 1 Iohn 5. It may provoke such as know not yet their gracious estate to seeke and wait till God come to them and manifest himselfe as Christs promise is to them that love him Iohn 14 21. God denying this knowledge supplyeth it by giving other grace for good to his though hee shew himselfe an enemie to trust in him against sense to give him glory of truth in that hee hath said and done He brings forth the grace of esteeming and desiring the knowledge of his love by deferring the sense of it This day Who knowes what a day may bring forth Conversion though an admirable worke a supernaturall change yet is it quickly done when God will put forth his power unto it This day As Christ our Saviour bare witnesse of the grace of Zacheus and the day in which hee received it so wee are in a speciall sort as wee can take notice to Gods prayse both of our grace and the time when it pleased God to come to us with salvation or any speciall good God appointed dayes of remembrance of his benefits three times in a yeare which hee called his feasts Levit. 23. He is pleased to make some dayes memorable by soâ—e speciall worke in them That they are singularly dayes that the Lord hath made as in the creation God would have his workes distinctly set downe upon such a day such things made that wee might more distinctly meditate them to his glory Gen. 1. So he would set certaine dayes to the delivering or conferring some speciall good upon his Church and keepe his day without fayling and such a day was to bee remembred for ever Exod. 12 41 42. and 13 3 9. Psal. 118 24. The day in which God set David in his kingdome and delivered his Church hee calls a day that the Lord hath made wherein they will rejoyce and bee glad The scripture makes mention of evill dayes and good dayes evill when the Divell in a speciall sort is permitted ordered to tempt Gods servants either with inward or outward darting at them to wound them if hee can to kill them flesh and soule Daungerous and fearefull to the weake servant of God but hee armed with the whole armour of God and resisting in the Lords might standing with victory it is a day to bee remembred as that Father confesseth there was opportunitie there wanted temptation there was temptation there wanted opportunitie there was both opportunitie and temptation and the Lord delivered mee Such dayes are to bee remembred to Gods prayse There be dayes set by the enemies of Gods Church sometime to destroy and root it out that their names be no more in remembrance the Lord discovers their lot and their plot and turnes all upon their owne head that the net hath catcht themselves they fall into the pit they digged the wicked is snared in the worke of his owne hands the followeth Higgaion Selah A double noting Psal 9. as greately to bee meditated As in that particular betweene Haman the Iewes adversarie and Mâ—rdechai and the people the day determined for their destroying utterly was turned unto a day of their deliverance and destruction of their adversaries by that God who turnes kings hearts which way he will as men turne the course of rivers and streames Ester 8. 17. It may warrant and incourage unto the keeping of some dayes in a speciall thankefullnesse to the Lord for some speciall benefits received thereon As Herod kept his birth day without blame but by the abuse They kept the feast of the dedication of the Temple at which our Saviour was as it seemes Iohn 10 22 23. with approbation The Sabboth wee keepe seemeth therefore to bee chaunged from that seventh which was for remembrance of finishing Gods worke increation to our seventh in remembrance of restoring of all things by Iesus Christ and is therefore called the Lords day Revel 1. Not onely as author of our keeping that day but referred to the remembrance of his worke Mordecai by decree established the keeping of the memorie of the Iewes deliverance every yeare two set dayes together the 14 and 15. of the Moneth Adar 〈…〉 ster 9 21 22. If dayes of deliverance and birth and benefits specially concerning our temporall life bee so warrantably observed and remembred then dayes of our spirituall eternal deliveraÌ„ce new birth unto a life that lasts for ever much more Alwayes ought wee to be thankefull but specially remembring the day in which salvation came to us if men and women keepe their wedding day yearely why not the day of their espousing to Christ The Apostle reproves such observation of dayes as